Online Reporter
Amos Mpofu [email protected]
The serving president of the Internet Society (ISOC) Zimbabwe Chapter, Mrs Charity Ncube, recently represented Zimbabwe’s civil society and academic sector at the United Nations’ 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), held in Lillestrøm, Norway.
The high-level event ran from 23 to 27 June 2025 at NOVA Spektrum, under the theme “Building Digital Governance Together”. It was convened by the United Nations with support from the Internet Society.
Mrs Ncube attended the forum in her capacity as a lecturer in Information Systems at Solusi University and Head of Policy and Governance at ISOC Zimbabwe. She also serves as the Interim National Coordinator of the Zimbabwe Internet Governance Forum (ZimIGF).
Her participation followed a nomination by both ISOC and the UN to represent Zimbabwe among global stakeholders.
The IGF is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together representatives from government, private sector, civil society, academia, technical communities, and international organisations. It facilitates open dialogue on a broad range of digital public policy issues including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data privacy, universal internet access, and sustainable digital innovation.
Speaking to The Chronicle upon her return, Mrs Ncube said the forum was “insightful and fulfilling”.
“The IGF aimed to address key challenges and opportunities in building an open, resilient, secure, and sustainable internet that respects the rights of all,” she said.
She highlighted the forum’s four main focus areas: Building Digital Trust and Resilience, Sustainable and Responsible Innovation, Universal Access and Rights, and Digital Cooperation.
“This year’s IGF really underscored how important it is for people across all sectors and countries to build digital governance together. The insights and outputs generated during the forum have been submitted to both global and national decision-making bodies for further action,” she added.
A seasoned ICT professional with more than a decade of experience managing complex computing systems, Mrs Ncube has been with Solusi University since 2019 and has actively contributed to policy and governance initiatives in the internet space.
Her recent participation in Norway follows her involvement in the Build a Better Future: Empowering Youth Internet Leaders conference held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in May this year.
Despite her technical background and extensive experience, she said the opportunity to participate in the IGF was a personal milestone.
“I was so excited and truly honoured to participate at a forum that highlighted the importance of our collective efforts as civil society and academia,” she said.
